A Psychiatrist Negotiates The Prison System

Transformation in the Addicts' Ward - Indicators of Change

About 1100 heroin-dependent adult, male prisoners had been admitted to the programme till May 1995. One-third of these were under-trial for narcotics possession/sale, one third for thefts, and about one-third for violence/under the Arms Act. About 40% per cent have been admitted after a medically supervised detoxification and the rest have been undergone peer- supervised modified cold-turkey withdrawal in our community. (About 12,000 addicts have been admitted to the communities in the past 7 years).

Since the therapeutic community started functioning, the culture of the "addicts ward" had undergone a radical transformation. The ward was once the darkest area in the prison. The deputy superintendent would peek in on his evening rounds seeing very little as inmates used to break all light bulbs at dusk to avoid detection of drug use. Heroin use was a daily occurrence. The inmates were looked down upon as hopeless. The teachers of the prison education wing had refused to go in to teach. The night duty officer would be called time and time again as frequent quarrels were reported and the barracks would have to be opened. False blaming was prevalent.

At the end of first twenty months, AASRA Parivar is recognised as a significant treatment programme for drug de- addiction by the jail, and a stream of visitors and dignitaries visit the ward. The residents wear a sense of pride (increased self-esteem) amongst the jail community. They also value the position of big-brother and family head. Where once, inmates needed 45 minutes to sit for a meeting, they assemble in less than 5 minutes (increased discipline, a higher sense of responsibility and respect for authority). Silence is observed when requested and excuses to leave meetings are less. Quarrels have decreased (better coping with feelings of anger), heroin smuggling has decreased (better detection and control of supply as well as longer abstinence), false blaming has decreased (more respect for others). Less number of inmates are tempted to take heroin when it does reach the ward (better impulse control). There are longer periods of no drug use verified by regular urinalysis (increased abstinence). Consequences are taken with less resistance (increased power of the community as well as sense of accountability in residents). Transgressions are owned more easily (greater honesty). Increased and voluntary participation in the workshops and projects undertaken by the community reflect incorporation of the work ethic (increased sense of community). The quality of sharing has improved showing improved communication skills and experiential learning.

This growth is also seen in the staff members. Our erstwhile head-warder is now an assistant superintendent, our munshis and second munshis are called on for important jail assignments and our education staff (non-addict jail inmates) report better tolerance for others, better work ethic and improved self-esteem. Our ex-addict staff members report better punctuality, better time-management, and continued abstinence. The residents and staff members now are a part of AASRA Parivar and are proud of it.

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